2008 Tour de Pink
Test Ride and Rider Information by John Chaki This document is for the Hershey’s Tour de Pink riders for 2008. It is basically a report of the test ride and will contain information important to the riders. You will save a lot of time by reading this before going to Hershey. I know that once you get to the start you will not have time, nor will you want to read anything. You will be too busy greeting old friends and making new ones and preparing for the next day's ride. 2008 Test Ride We had a blast! The route this year is very scenic and even has a covered bridge each day. Be sure to bring a camera to capture the scenery and document your ride.
Let me introduce you to the test riders and our support. L-R: John Chaki, Tom Armstrong, Ron Ruggerio, Ed Kalach, Brian Ignatin and our director sportif, Joe Santucci. Ron heads up the signage crew of Ed and Brian who get up earlier than anyone and go out on the course to set up the directional arrows to keep us on course, so this ride is primarily for them to be sure they know the route. Tom was there to keep the pace up, and Joe is the critical guy in this group, making sure we have our stuff and then he goes ahead to make sure the hotel is ready for us and … he gets the beer! Me, I just ride along making sure these guys can read the cue sheets and looking for things to tell you about.
Day 1 I thought that we had learned from last year that a late start will put us into the heat of the day and in danger of having to ride in the dark. I was determined that we would get an early start, and arranged everything accordingly. We started out with good intentions, and everything was on schedule for the first hour. Then a tire went flat on the van. So we
repaired it and lost about two hours. That made us late arriving in Hershey and starting the ride. So, we decided to eat lunch. Finally, we were under way. I had a glitch with the computer when we hit Chocolate Ave. until we reached Bachmanville. It missed a left turn on Areba and the right on Homestead. I learned later when I downloaded the information that the computer made a straight line correction. Fortunately, this was the only time the computer failed me. You should not have any problems because of this, as we will be together on this portion inasmuch as it is early in the event. The late start also had another consequence: it started to rain. It was only a light drizzle and served to cool us down. After we first turned on to Elizabethtown Road, we encountered a steel grate bridge. We all rode across the bridge and compared notes. Because of the slightly wet conditions, we all experienced some sliding. We strongly recommend that you consider walking across this bridge. We proceeded on course and experienced a 44 mph descent on the downhill after Lawn. The road is straight and higher speed could be reached, but if you don’t know the road surface, caution should be exercised. Because I did not, I was feathering my brakes. I think that 50 could be reached easily, but not wisely. We have a downhill at mile 20 that is almost a switchback and very fast. It was so fast and technical, I dared not look at the computer, so BE CAREFUL. We encountered a complete road closure at Wanner Road around mile 38. The road may not be repaired in time for us, so we scouted a detour. You will have two options on the cue sheet, and we will inform you of the right one and have it properly marked before the ride. From your perspective, it matters not. At mile 48, you will go through Weaver’s Mill covered bridge. It amazes me that NO ONE has taken a photo of this to place for Google® Earth. Hint, hint. I cannot note exactly where these following events occurred, but they certainly added to the adventure: We rode behind a horse drawn wagon up a hill. I figured it was a draft horse. Lagging behind the others at one point, I rode along a pasture and two horses thought I wanted to race them and they rode along with me. Fortunately, there was a fence between us. We stopped to discuss the cue sheets to clarify a turn and a kitten roamed into the roadway to see what was going on. We prevented it from being squashed by a truck, and then Ed picked it up and took it to a farmhouse. We saw tobacco being harvested by the Amish using horse drawn wagons.
Near Valley Forge a deer darted into the road, barely missing Ron and Tom. We arrived at the hotel as it was getting dark, earlier than usual because of being overcast, but we were all thankful we didn’t have to ride any longer. Joe had the beer cooled for us. The consensus was that this is a challenging route even though there are no “climbs” to speak of, but the rolling ups and downs will make you work. Off for a pasta dinner and then to bed. Unfortunately, the Sheraton has a karaoke bar, but you will not be inclined to participate. You should be tired and still have two more days to go! Useless stats and links for the mapping will be at the end for all three days.
Day 2 Talk about “best laid plans!” Once ready for the second day, Brain got a flat in the room overnight! Either there were gremlins, or he was doing something we don’t want to talk about. Always check your bike every day before the ride. Gremlins are always at work at night, sneaking into rooms and loosening bolts. I had a spare wheel, so I offered it to him for expediency. Then Tom noticed a cut on his rear tire, so we put a dollar bill inside to reinforce the tire. Finally off, Joe went on to prep the hotel. No more than a mile up the road Ed jammed a pothole and pinched a tire, so we stopped for repair. Off again, Tom had a flat, so we repaired it. YUCK!! It took almost an hour to get 2 miles and we have 80+ to go. The weather was perfect, however, and we motored right along. Up Visitation Road (probably named so because of the nearby prison) and along the ridge we moved quickly. At Indian Creek Road (rough road noted on the cue sheet), I dropped my chain trying to shift down at the end where it rises. Real bonehead move, rookie, shift earlier on smoother pavement, or be prepared to get off the bike — or worse. Continuing across on the ridg,e we stopped for lunch and proceeded to Lake Nockamixon and on to the Geigle Hill descent. The road is no better than last year and I hit a pothole at 40 mph, losing my water bottle. Brian was behind me and told me where it was — after adeptly avoiding it — but I was not about to go back up there for a stinking plastic bottle. I was just glad I wasn’t riding carbon rims! Then through the Erwinna covered bridge, which is the smallest in Bucks County. I guess that’s why they don’t have a name plaque for it.
Then we turned south on River Road. Tommy must have been bored with our pace (he rode professionally in Europe) he turned on the afterburners. I never saw anything except his posterior and his derailleur from then on, the others were less fortunate, they had to look at mine. I sat as close to his wheel as possible as he pulled us at a leisurely (for him) 22 mph for the next 28 miles all the way to the Calhoun Street Bridge into Trenton. The only slowing was an inconvenient red light in New Hope, for which the rest of us were thankful. Hopefully, you will ride at a more genteel pace and enjoy the scenery. On River Road is a building that predates the Revolution. I won’t tell you what it is or when it was built. I will buy a beverage for the first person to bring a picture of it, the sign and one of our riders under the sign and the date. It has to be a good picture, not one of those fuzzy cell phone jobs. Got to the hotel and Joe had cold beer for us. Robin and Glenn took us out to dinner.
Day 3 The word “bittersweet” is defined by the last day of a ride like this. The pace is leisurely as noted by the stats. Not much to say about the technique/terrain of this day. You might be weary from two long rides and happy for the short day and easy roads. This is the historic portion of the ride. You will see more old stuff on this ride than any other and you will see some that are rarely visited because of the remote nature. Be sure to take pictures! Harbourton general store (1764), Rock Church (1744), and in Mt Airy there are two original stage coach stops. That is where you first ride on Old York Road. It was originally a Lenape path that was converted into the route for stage coaches traveling from New York to Philadelphia around 1750. It took anywhere from three to seven days depending on weather. You will crisscross Old York road many times on this route. Take time to read the historic markers dotting the roadway. Also, look for the dinosaur. We started early for the “Sunday” ride. I had been having some digestive problems so I had to hail Joe to ride in the van for a portion and then jump back in. After Mt Airy, you will go down to Stockton on Alexauken Creek Road and pass the famous Stockton Inn, hangout for Oscar Hammerstein and many other famous artists. Make it a point to come back some day. Then back on Lower Creek (oldest covered bridge in NJ) to Ringoes, where the stage stopped and the locals had gambling for the travelers. You are on Old York Road again and pass Larison’s Corner Church (1740) to Three Bridges.
We were glad to reach the park. No beer today, just disassemble and return to our “normal” lives.
Useless Statistics
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
Total Time Moving Time Distance (miles) Average Speed (mph) Max Speed (mph) Elevation Gain (ft) Net Elevation
5:40 5:00 84.5 16.9 44.1 5489 -199
6:11 5:12 82.9 15.9 40.5 4542 -169
3:28 3:10 48.0 15.1 37.7 2988 241
Links to mapping/GPS stuff: Day 1 http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6544550 Day 2 http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6544551 Day 3 http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/6544552
I look forward to seeing you in Hershey. Train hard, train smart and always keep the rubber on the road. If you have any questions, write to me — I need a laugh. John Chaki G4 Productions jchaki@aol.com